FRISCO - First, to the cold, hard facts about the Dallas Cowboys receivers room pre-George Pickens: If the Cowboys front office, scouting department and coaching staff had a very real believe that Jonathan Mingo is a legit No. 2 receiver - no matter the PR puffery they've cranked out on the subject - Pickens would not be here.
When the Cowboys traded for Pickens, he instantly and obviously became the team’s WR2. ... and it all spoke to an obvious void.
And now comes a next-level debate behind franchise wideout CeeDee Lamb and Pickens: Who is the WR3 ... and how much does it matter?
The WR3 role in an offense has become essential to a team’s success with 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRSs) being one of the most frequently used alignments in today’s NFL.
At the same time, CowboysCountry.com has suggested that new coach Brian Schottenheimer's run-first philosophy might actually result in Dallas using more 12 personnel, meaning 2 tight ends.
Add it up: If Dallas uses 2 tight ends, Dallas doesn't use a third receiver.
For the Cowboys, the two receivers primed to compete for the WR3 gig seem to be Jalen Tolbert and Mingo.
We say that knowing full well that Ryan Flournoy and others have fans here inside The Star ... and that KaVontae Turpin is going to be utilized as a legit offensive weapon.
Oh, and we might as well note that rookie running back Jaydon Blue, when at the University of Texas, lined up as a receiver more than any back in all of college football last year.
By the numbers? It’s Tolbert’s job to lose as he is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2024 season.
By the hype? After being traded to Dallas midway through last season, Mingo posted just five receptions for 46 yards and no touchdowns in his eight appearances with the Cowboys.
And still, there are some media outlets predicting that "Mingo will be a starter.''
To be honest: One big reason Mingo gets mentioned here is because the aforementioned Dallas front office gave up a fourth-round pick to Carolina in that trade … And the front office would like to be proven right.
Mingo is young (24), has some pedigree (as a second-round pick) and has size (he is 6-2 and 220 pounds). But the idea of him grabbing a consistent role as a full-fledged receiver is a projection being made without any evidence to back it up.
The Dak Prescott-led passing attack will largely be about Lamb and Pickens. ... and all things considered, the idea of "Mingo as a starter'' might be an afterthought at best ...
And flat-wrong at worst.
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